With more newly-constructed multi-unit buildings coming to completion, rent gains fell behind asking price increases at the national level for the first time since the price recovery began last spring. In January, rents rose 4.1 percent Y-o-Y nationally, slowing down from 4.7 percent in July 2012. Regionally, rent gains cooled the most in San Francisco, where rents rose 2.4 percent versus 11.5 percent in July 2012.

“Rent gains are slowing down because of more supply, not less demand,” explains Jed Kolko, Trulia’s Chief Economist. “Many of the multi-unit buildings that have been under construction over the past two years are now coming onto the market. Renters in San Francisco, Seattle, and Denver are starting to get a touch of relief, even though rising prices might put homeownership out of their reach.”

In Memoriam: Doris "Tanta" Dungey

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Blogroll: I'm receiving 100s of requests to be on the blogroll and it is completely out of control.Right now the blogroll is frozen until further notice while I rethink the usefulness for the readers. Sorry.Thanks, CR